I don't own a cocktail dress. Heck, I hardly even own any jewelry. Pretty much any earrings make my ears red with burn. I rarely wear high heels because I don't like to have my toes pinched and I especially don't like blisters. I magically received a perfect bra in the mail a few weeks ago, or I wouldn't even have a good one of those.
It's not that I don't care at all about how I look, I guess it's just that I don't care all that much about how I look very often. So when there comes a time, or an event such as BlogHer, I don't even know where to start. I look in my closet and am suddenly reminded of how utterly normal I am. I stop and think about my style, re-frame it in my mind a few times, and then I stroll through shops wishing I was certain of it, this elusive style.
People have warned me often, telling me not to lose myself in motherhood. They hear me say that I absolutely love it and they remind me not to forget myself. I tell them that I haven't. I tell them that I won't, and for the most part, I'm not lying. I know what I think, what I believe, who I am. I know that I love my life at it's core, and I know I love to write and create. But I can admit I've lost that part of me that remembers to take care of herself. It's only when faced with a special night out, a wedding, or say...a blogging convention in which cuteness will reign, that I hurriedly make appointments and start to think about my skin and hair and style and chicken legs.
It does make me feel good to take a break from family life and experience a little coiffing and pampering. I've just been forgetting to do it.
I've been so busy being a mom and a wife, surviving some things and soaking up others, I simply have not picked up a phone to make the take-care-of-myself calls.
So to all of you BlogHers out there who I'll have the honor to meet this weekend, if I look any kind of cute at all, please know that I didn't look anything like I will on Thursday just two days before. All of my appointments are tomorrow. If you compliment me, I'm bound to say something like, "Why thank you, I just got this look yesterday!" And if you happen to be in my same not-very-high shoes, know that you aren't alone. We'll just be our newly stylized selves together, and it will be a really good time. Perhaps I'll even rediscover my elusive style.
39 clicked right here to comment:
Style? What the hell is that?
I hope I am "cute" but even if my clothes aren't, I'll make up for it with my personality- BOO YAH!
Can't wait to see you in all of your HAWTNESS on Thursday.
I am SO with you on this. Seriously. I live in the country. We swim in a river. We have a gravel drive. Therefore, I wear my hair in a pony tail, live in a swimsuit or jean shorts, and wear tennis shoes most days. It's my uniform.
It is so nice to resurrect this old me. The one who cared about keeping up with her highlights and wearing something requiring matching shoes. AND OMG, don't even get me started on prettying up my toenails and eyebrows.
I think we all need this every once in awhile. But only for a little bit. I'm happy to go back to my ponytails and jean shorts next week.
I think I'm going to go pluck my eyebrows now...
No, seriously, you're gorgeous, just so you know. But having your own sense of style does really feel good. I catch glimpses of mine every now and again (just glimpses) and it always makes me smile.
Have fun!
Oh no! I forgot about my eyebrows! ACK! ; )
I only discovered you and your blog yesterday via Lisa's list but now I am most excited to meet you and your cuteness!
P.S. Right there with you girl. And? Can't decide if it's a good or bad thing that I am restricted to mostly maternity clothes...
Oh I wish that I was going to BlogHer this weekend! I hope you have a great time!
I am so jealous! I hope you have a great time. And you will look smashing.
Oh my Goodness. Have fun!
And share your styling tips when you get back!
sounds like fun! enjoy the adult conversation. ;)
Me too, give me a pair of cons, comfy jeans, and a worn t-shirt any day! I have never even had a pedicure...
Sweet girl, if they don't recognize that you are the real deal, I say forget about them! You are quality no matter what you wear. But especially when you are wearing that mommy smile!
Oh, me too! I didn't know what to do with myself when I had an entire night of pampering last month. So fun, but so intimidating!
You're going to look great. You already do!
There are many shades, colors, flavors, and dimensions of 'cute', my friend.
Knock 'em over.
(...because I can't bring myself to say knock 'em dead.)
LOVE this pic of you and the boys.
I am sure that you are going to look fabulous in whatever you wear because you are fabulous.
I so wish that I was going to blogher just so that I could meet you.
I HATE bra shopping. Okay, so I'm not that fond of clothes shopping period. Something about having to take my clothes on and off repeatedly.
So: how on earth did you get a perfect one sent to you by mail??? That fit??? I'd like to try me some of that...
PS How is Asher's nose doing? Oh! The suspense..
I LOVE having an excuse for a mini-makeover. I'd do them all the time, in fact, so I have to ration them out and use them as rewards. They're for weight lost milestones or writing milestones. I bet my husband only wishes I was in danger of forgetting to do stuff like that.
I'm with ChristyM! I'm a country girl and I guess I pretty much dress like one all the time. I do throw on an occasional comfy skirt, but mostly my wardrobe consists of jeans! My hair is always in a ponytail or up-do. It's just easier! And many a day I don't even put on a stitch of make-up! Even so with all this normalacy, I have never heard my little charges complain! They love mommy just as she is!
your "style" does come back when your kids get older and you have more time to think about it!!! Plus if you want them to even remotely spend time with you in public...you have to find it!!! ha!
Han fun talking - to ADULTS! And you'll look adorable no matter what you wear.
Mary,
Let's just say that a lovely blog friend sent me something that wasn't claimed in a give-away. The size? Pure luck :)
I can't wait to meet you on Thursday! My style? The hubs just tried to help me discover one at Banana the other day, lol
Whatevs! I always think you look so cute whenever I see you! Have fun this weekend!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!
Talk about a treat. Enjoy it. I'll be happy for you, and a tad jealous.
But mostly happy.
You could be wearing a paper bag and be the awesomest thing I see all day. I canNOT wait to hug and squish you. Or look bewildered at you. Or cry, overwhelmed. Not sure which will happen, so be forewarned now.
It is like major therapy to go get some attention like that. A nice haircut, some plucking or waxing, etc. Ahhhhh
Have so so so much fun on your trip!
Have a GREAT time (and spill something on your outfit in honor of all of us frumpy moms who didn't get to go.) ;)
How fun that you posted this today! You see, I was just looking down at my attire earlier this evening and said to my spouse "It's official, I am now totally just white trash!".
I've been losing weight so nothing I wear looks good on me. Tonight I wore a pair of shorts that I had used to stain the fence last year. We weren't planning on going anywhere but ended up on a quick errand. Me with my hair in a ponytail and stained shorts and he with his t-shirt and cut-off sweats. Yowza!
I hope you find just the right look!
I'm visiting from The Fun House and just had to say, I LOVE your 'About Me'!
Hope you have fun at BlogHer.
I totally agree about losing my style...not that I cared about my appearance that much before, but my looks are DEFINITELY my last priority now! :) I don't really 'get it', I guess, how people say, 'Don't lose yourself'. This is who I am now, I am Mom. I'm sure when my kids leave the house (40 years from now) I won't be lost, though - I'm already looking forward to scrapbooking & spending time with my Hubby. :) - some days I think about those days more than others, but I just try to enjoy every day now as it comes. :)
i've lost my hairstyle to exercise...and i really don't care.
i felt mildly bad about it when my hubs said "your hair looks really good today, what did you do differnetly?"
"Um..i fixed it."
enjoy blogher and your new style!
My kids double-take and almost don't recognize me when I dress like a real person. Since I telecommute, I haven't even bothered to get new clothes in postbaby size (more like shape, which I wouldn't even know where to find).
Anyway, have a fab time at BlogHer! I'm jealous.
*sniffle* You have fun. I never thought I'd be so insanely jealous of anything.
Oh yes, we all know the feeling! Have fun and rediscover your self! :)
I would be woefully inept at dressing for a cocktail party. And I haven't worn heels for ages!
BUT you are adorable inside and out and everyone loves you and will be completely blown over by the goodness that is you...even if you went in jeans and a t-shirt!
What if you've never really *had* a sense of style in the first place? Then there's nothing to lose :)
And just wondering: what kind of haircut can you get to fix chicken legs? I'm in desperate need of having those fixed. (Hopefully nothing feathered! Oh come on! That's funny, right?! *sigh* My bad jokes are another reason not to go out in public, stylish or not.)
Have fun!
I have a big party to go to tomorrow, and I've been hunting the elusive style all day!
And I love you just the way you are!!! I'm sure you'll look gorgeous for the event but you know what? Everyone who knows you knows how gorgeous your soul is and that, my dear, will shine out no matter what. *mwah!*
I have been saying for YEARS that I need someone to nominate me for What Not To Wear. I can't even seem to remember how to dress cute sometimes.
You are adorable no matter what and I really wish I was going to meet you. I do live near Chicago, but BlogHer was not in the cards for me this year. Have an awesome time!
Style? What on earth is that?
I've been searching for mine for ages.
When you get your style, will you just pick up two, because I just KNOW I will like it too. Thanks.
{stomps her feet}
Have fun at Blogher. With out us frumpsters here in Internet land!
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